MANY CLERICS AND SCHOLARS LIKE TO ASSERT THAT JESUS WAS WRONG
Some critics of the Bible look often for statements they can use to claim that the word of God is quite fallible. They wish to exploit anything they can use. We must become competent workman in our use of the Bible. Let us look at one of the verses used to undermine scripture :
Matthew 16:27-28, “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are SOME standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
First, Christ only said some of the men would see Jesus in His second coming glory. THE SECOND COMING DID NOT COME in that generation. Is this a contradiction? No, it is not a mistake of Christ regarding the timing of His second coming. No one knows the timing except the Father. However, true believers must become highly skilled in understanding the Holy Words of God.
2 Timothy 2:14-16, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, A WORKERwho does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.”
TRUE BELIEVERS should not be sidetracked into vain debates about words or idle, meaningless interpretations of scripture or weird analogies, etc. We must learn to use all scripture in context to see the true message that God is imparting in any verse.
THE CONTEXT REVEALS WHAT JESUS WAS REFERRING TO AMONG THEM
The revealing of any message involves looking at the context. One can take any message and distort its true meaning by editing out or twisting the context in which it was given. So what was the context of Mathew's recorded testimony?
Matthew 16:28, “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” (KJV)
Chapter 17, “1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.”
Did Jesus mean that the Kingdom and His second coming were within the lifetime of those disciples? No! He meant that some would have the wonderful experience of viewing what it will be like to see and be in God's kingdom. He was referring to a transfiguration which would soon occur. Probably the two greatest prophets and Christ himself were shone in their eternal glowing state to encourage them.
Revelation 1:14-16, “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”
What a vision! The critics use tunnel vision to try and cast doubt on the Bible when all they had to do was to read the next few statements to see the truth. They do not want the truth. Some of the contextual problems are more involved than this one but critics love to use tunnel vision to cast doubts on God's word.
2 Peter 1:1-3, “Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,” (NKJV)
Christ, Peter and Paul want us to appreciate the glory that awaits us if we persevere.
Romans 8:16-18, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
The Bible presents many eyewitnesses of the lessons for Israel and the life and times of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. The credibility of the Witnesses is based on their Independence and honest pure observations.
NEAR PERFECT AGREEMENT AMONG EYE WITNESSES IS SUSPECT
If all witnesses to an event or crime give exactly the same testimony you know the memory of these events has been coached. It is suspect of being totally engineered and corrupted. Mathew and Peter were eye witnesses. Witnesses in a trial who all say the exact same words have been schooled by attorneys and their witness is thereby corrupted. It is not an independent observation. Slight variations in the words of the Apostles should be expected and not used as fodder to discredit the Bible but to give it more credibility. The variations do not contradict each other but add to the narrative. See harmony of the gospel books for examples.
Peter 1:15-17, “Morover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
Booths were referred to by Peter because Jesus will build the ruling Kingdom with Moses & Elijah in the Millennium, represented by the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles.
Mathew 17:8-9, “When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, ‘Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.’”
It was a beautiful vision of a glorious future in the Kingdom to encourage them.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-6, “ For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”
We should be looking and watching events to anticipate the coming of the new age and while watching, staying spiritually ready and strong.
ISSUES : Are we now really closing in on the end times?
Why do we think Christ is coming in our lifetime?
